Come, Follow Me
January 22–28: “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God.” 1 Nephi 11–15


“January 22–28: ‘Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God.’ 1 Nephi 11–15,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 (2023)

“January 22–28. 1 Nephi 11–15,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: 2024 (2023)

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people eating the fruit of the tree of life

The Love of God, by Sabrina Squires

January 22–28: “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God”

1 Nephi 11–15

When God has monumental work for His prophet to do, He often gives that prophet a monumental vision. Moses, John, Lehi, and Joseph Smith all had visions like that—visions that expanded their minds and helped them see just how grand and awe-inspiring God’s work really is.

Nephi also had one of these life-changing visions. He saw the ministry of the Savior, the future of Lehi’s posterity in the promised land, and the latter-day destiny of God’s work. After this vision, Nephi was better prepared for the work that lay ahead. And reading about this vision can help prepare you too—for God also has work for you to do in His kingdom. You are among “the saints of the church of the Lamb” seen by Nephi, “who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).

See also “Nephi Sees a Vision of Future Events” (video), Gospel Library.

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Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church

1 Nephi 11

God sent Jesus Christ as an expression of His love.

When Nephi asked the angel about the meaning of the tree in Lehi’s vision, the angel could have simply said, “It represents the love of God.” Instead, he showed Nephi a series of symbols and events from the Savior’s life. Look for these symbols and events as you read and ponder 1 Nephi 11. What do you find that helps you understand why Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love?

You might also consider watching Bible Videos in the Gospel Library that correspond with the events Nephi saw. How has the Savior helped you feel your Heavenly Father’s love?

See also Susan H. Porter, “God’s Love: The Most Joyous to the Soul,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 33–35.

1 Nephi 12–14

I can be “armed with righteousness” and power.

Nephi would not live to witness much of what he saw in his vision. Why do you think it was valuable for Nephi to know these things? Why is it valuable for you to know them? Ask these questions each time you read about something that Nephi saw in his vision (see 1 Nephi 12–14). What impressions do you receive about your role in the Lord’s “great and … marvelous work”? (1 Nephi 14:7). What are some of the great and marvelous things He has done for you?

Consider especially the promise in 1 Nephi 14:14. How has the Savior fulfilled this promise in your life? (For some examples, see David A. Bednar, “With the Power of God in Great Glory,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 28–30, especially the last two sections.)

1 Nephi 13:1–9; 14:9–11

What is the “great and abominable church” that Nephi saw?

President Dallin H. Oaks explained that the “great and abominable church” Nephi described represents “any philosophy or organization that opposes belief in God. And the ‘captivity’ into which this ‘church’ seeks to bring the saints will not be so much physical confinement as the captivity of false ideas” (“Stand as Witnesses of God,” Ensign, Mar. 2015, 32). How does the Savior help you avoid—and escape from—the captivity of false ideas?

1 Nephi 15:1–11

God will answer me if I ask in faith.

Have you ever felt like you weren’t receiving personal revelation—that God wasn’t talking to you? What counsel did Nephi give his brothers when they felt this way? (See 1 Nephi 15:1–11.) How can you apply Nephi’s counsel in your life?

1 Nephi 15:23–25

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seminary icon
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist Satan’s influence.

Nephi often had urgent things to say to his brothers. But he seemed especially passionate about what he told them in 1 Nephi 15:23–25. What was Nephi’s message, and why do you think he felt so strongly about it?

Elder David A. Bednar taught that “the word of God” can refer to the scriptures, to the words of living prophets, and to Jesus Christ Himself. What do you think it means to “hold fast” to the scriptures and words of living prophets? What might it mean to “hold fast” to Jesus Christ? You might look for possible answers to these questions in Elder Bednar’s message “But We Heeded Them Not” (Liahona, May 2022, 14–16).

How does holding fast to the word of God help you resist the adversary? Filling out a table like this one could help organize your thoughts:

… help me overcome the darkness of temptation? (see 1 Nephi 12:17)

… help me “heed not” the vanity and pride of the world? (1 Nephi 12:18)

How does holding fast to the scriptures and words of living prophets …

… help me overcome the darkness of temptation? (see 1 Nephi 12:17)

… help me “heed not” the vanity and pride of the world? (1 Nephi 12:18)

How does holding fast to the Savior …

… help me overcome the darkness of temptation? (see 1 Nephi 12:17)

… help me “heed not” the vanity and pride of the world? (1 Nephi 12:18)

See also “The Iron Rod,” Hymns, no. 274; Jorge F. Zeballos, “Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 50–52.

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family reading the scriptures

The scriptures are like an iron rod that leads us to the tree of life.

For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.

Ideas for Teaching Children

1 Nephi 11:16–33

Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ because He loves me.

Use art to help children learn. When you teach your children a scripture story, help them visualize it. You could use pictures, videos, puppets, costumes, and so on.

1 Nephi 13:26–29, 35–36, 40

The Book of Mormon teaches precious truths.

  • To help your children value the “plain and precious” truths in the Book of Mormon, you could draw a picture and invite your children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. You could use this to teach that things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read together 1 Nephi 13:40 and talk about how the Book of Mormon (“these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible (the “first” records). What “plain and precious” truths have you learned from the Book of Mormon?

  • The video “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God” (Gospel Library) could help your children see why it’s important to have both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Children might enjoy re-creating the illustration from the video.

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copies of the Book of Mormon in different languages

The Book of Mormon restores gospel truths lost during the Apostasy.

1 Nephi 15:23–24

Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist temptation.

  • Give your children a chance to share what they remember about Lehi’s vision. It might help to use a picture, like the one in last week’s outline. What kept people from reaching the tree? What helped them reach it? You might ask them to find the iron rod in the picture. Read together 1 Nephi 15:23–24 to find out what the iron rod represents and how it can help us.

For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.

The voices in this lesson were generated using AI.

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Nephi’s vision of Mary and baby Jesus

Nephi’s Vision of Mary, by James Johnson

Notes

  1. The Love of God. Artist Sabrina Squires describes the inspiration behind her painting The Love of God: “‘All are alike unto God’—I chose to address this concept on a cultural level, attempting to address the pain that racism causes many individuals. The tree and its fruit represent the love of God, and people from different races collect the glowing orbs. The snowy branches of the tree provide a framework for a myriad of colors. To me, these rainbow shards represent God’s excitement and awareness in creating diversity, and that all the colors must work together for optimal beauty. Only when all of the colors of the rainbow are combined does white appear—the hue representing purity and peace. The tree is large and all-encompassing, providing and making room for any who desire to approach and gather. God’s love extends to all of His children, and He gives us the opportunity not only to partake of His love, but to share its abundance.”